Review: MUA Going for Gold Palette (with swatches)

I know that everybody and their mother knows about MUA's bargain eye palettes and I know it seems like I'm a little late to join the party but, it was really hard for me to get hold of this particular palette, they never had it in my nearest Superdrug for some reason so I haven't had it as long. When I first saw this palette I was so excited to try it because I have some of MUA's other palettes and for the price they are, they're pretty good. I've had this particular one for a good few months (can't remember exactly how many) and I've tried it out a few times and it's terrible! My disappointment was much too large to include it in my Disappointing Products post (which you can find here) and I felt it needed it's own post for me to fully explain why I hate this palette so much.

I love the fact that MUA started to put these Mini Master Class's on the back of their palettes because I think it's a nice way to try out some of the colours and see what they're like. Now I first looked at the colours it said to use and thought "well I definitely won't be wearing this everyday" because in the pan they look so bright, but when I tried it out they have very little colour pay off. In fact, they kind of just look like big clumps of glitter on the lids - not a pretty look!

As you can see, the first colour on each row is incredibly light and probably meant to highlight. The other colours all do look pretty pigmented on the back of my hand but that's after picking up a hell of a lot of product on my fingers. When you use a brush on the eyes, the colour pay off is no where near as good and you have to really build up the colour. Even after adding an unnecessary amount of shadow to your eyes, it still doesn't look the same colour as it does on the back of my hand. Which was what most disappointed me because I absolutely loved shade 2 (second in on the left, top row), shade 9 (second in on the right, bottom row) and shade 10 (last one on the right, bottom row) when they're swatched on the back of my hand. Unfortunately, this makes it really hard to create any eye looks that actually look good (trust me, I've tried).

Another thing I really hate about this palette is how chalky the powders are. All my other MUA palettes have quite a nice consistency and so I was surprised by how chalky and messy these are. They go all over the pan and can sometimes fall all over your cheeks whilst applying (not a big deal as I've started doing my eyes first for this reason but it is pretty irritating). I think this texture also makes them look pretty horrible on the lid and doesn't help to stop the clumpy glitter look they have.

Honestly, I have no idea about lasting power of these eyeshadows because I've never worn one long enough to find out. Considering the little colour pay of you get in the first place and the odd texture I wouldn't expect them to last a long time even with a primer.

Overall, I'm incredibly disappointed with this palette. I was so excited because the colours looked gorgeous and I had such high expectations and it was just a complete dud. I'd give this palette 1/5 stars because although I absolutely hate it, I will probably get some wear out of the lighter highlight colours.

I'd just like to say that the other MUA 12 eyeshadow palettes aren't like this at all. They all have pretty decent pigmentation and they're pretty smooth to apply - not chalky at all. It's just this palette that the quality isn't there.

I hope you have a fabulous day,

Nikki x

Where else to find me:

instagram: nickeeeta

twitter: nickeeeta

Disappointing Products!

Hello beauties! It's been a while since my last post, I know, but technology just hasn't been on my side lately. Hopefully, all those problems have been solved which means lots more posts! Today, I wanted to talk about some products that I've been disappointed with and I have to say it doesn't happen often. I do a lot of research into something before I buy it but sometimes things just don't work out. So, let's get started.

First of is LOOK Colour Correcting Primer which you can buy from Superdrug for £12 (although it's not on their website anymore for some reason). To start with I think this product (and everything from LOOK actually) is overpriced. If it actually worked, I wouldn't mind it being £12 but seeing as it literally does nothing it's not worth it. It doesn't mask redness, doesn't make foundation apply smoother and it doesn't make your make-up last any longer. Plus, it's way too easy to accidently apply too much which makes you look like a zombie. Overall, a waste of money.

Next, Clarins Instant Definition Mascara which retails at £20. Now, I bought this at the same time as my foundation (review of that here) in order to get three free gifts. The lady told me this was her favourite as the brush had a smaller tip to catch small hairs. Seeing as I'd heard good things about brushes like that I figured, why not? I've given this mascara plenty of chances to redeem itself but I get the same results everytime. It's clumpy, makes my eyelashes all stick together and the bit that's meant to catch small hairs just applies too much product which further clumps up my lashes. I was so disappointed with this because the packaging is so nice!

Now, this is a product that I'd heard so many good things about from people on YouTube and other beauty bloggers here but I just couldn't get on with it. As it's a highlighting concealer I decided to use it under my eyes (and it seemed everyone else who loved it did too) but I found it settled into fine lines around my eyes and made me look 10 years older. Also, I found that it really accentuated any pores I had on my cheeks and actually made them look a bit oily. However, as I've heard so many good things about it I think this particular concealer just doesn't work for me. It's £6.99 from Superdrug.

Revlon Colourstay Foundation in 110 Ivory for Normal/Dry Skin

I know a lot of people are probably going to be surprised by Revlon Colourstay being on this list so I'd just like to clarify, I do really love this foundation (most of the time)! The reason it's on this list is actually really petty. Whilst researching this foundation every single person described it as "full coverage" and it's not. I would say this was medium coverage that is some what buildable - but not much. Now, at the time, I desperately wanted a full coverage foundation that lasted all day and this seemed like it (and for £12.49 too) but I was disappointed. Yes, it lasts all day but it didn't deliver the coverage I wanted at the time. It's still one of my favourite foundations but I think people need to stop marketing it as full coverage because it isn't.

This is another product from Revlon, it's their Super Lustrous Lipstick in Nude Attitude. Now, on the back of my hand it looks pretty opaque however it doesn't look like that at all on the lips. It's pretty sheer which doesn't look all that nice, in my opinion. Also, it clings to all the dry patches on my lips, dry patches I didn't even realise were there and don't show up with other lipsticks. I just haven't been able to find a way to apply this and make it look good. Incredibly disappointing considering all the amazing things I've heard about Revlon lipsticks.

I know that my brush looks really dirty in the close up but it's not. I haven't used it since the last time I washed it, it's just dust I swear!

This is another one that people might be a bit surprised by. This (as if you didn't already know) is the ELF Powder Brush which is just £3.75! I have to start off by saying, it is super soft and it is super dense. However, it doesn't apply foundation as well as everybody makes out it does. I was disappointed with it as soon as I received it but after getting my Buffing Brush it was completely cast aside. I've never used this for powder but I imagine it would be okay for that. I do sometimes contour with it (I know that's a bit weird considering how big it is but I think it gives a nice, slightly faded, contour) but to be honest, I rarely pick it up anymore.

This last product is pretty brand spanking new. When MUA released this Undress Your Skin line I was pretty excited because as far as budget beauty brands go, I hold MUA in high regard. However, this Radiant Under Eye Concealer is awful. I first applied it as I do all undereye concealer's, which does go quite far down my cheeks. When it comes out it just looks like a regular concealer, pretty light considering this is the only shade they do. I blended it with my beauty blender and , my god, it looked like someone had just thrown glitter at me. The concealer itself is pretty sheer and then there's just all this glitter. What's that about MUA? I don't think this will be something that I ever reach for again, unfortunately.

Well, that's it for my disappointing products. There were actually more than I was expecting but I guess it doesn't matter. There are always going to some products that just don't work out for you. I hope you guys don't encounter too many dud products but do let me know in the comments if you have (yeah right, Nikki, like anybody reads these posts)!

Have a fabulous day!

Nikki x

Where else to find me:

instagram: nickeeeta

twitter: nickeeeta